In the Philippines, 197 charged in political massacre
197 people charged with murder over Philippine massacre - Yahoo! News
MANILA (AFP) – A former close ally of Philippine President Gloria Arroyo and 196 other people were on Tuesday charged with murder over an election-linked massacre that horrified the nation, prosecutors said.
Andal Ampatuan Snr, the head of a Muslim clan and the former governor of Maguindanao province where the slaughter of 57 people occurred last year, was among those charged, according to papers filed in a Manila court.
In total, 197 people were charged, including other senior clan members, local government officials and policemen who allegedly helped organise the killings, as well as thugs accused of abducting and shooting the victims.
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Prosecutors alleged at Ampatuan Jnr's trial that he and about 100 of his gunmen abducted and killed the victims to stop a rival, Esmael Mangudadatu, from running against him for the post of Maguindanao governor in May elections.
Mangudadatu's wife and pregnant sister, as well as at least 30 journalists travelling with them, were among the 57 killed.
